Touch substrate, method of manufacturing the same and display device having the same

ABSTRACT

A touch substrate includes a base substrate, a common electrode and a wire electrode. The base substrate has a plurality of common electrode areas. A common electrode is disposed in each of the common electrode areas. The common electrode has a plurality of first electrode lines extended in a first direction and arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction and a plurality of second electrode lines arranged in the first direction. The wire electrode is connected to an end of the common electrode to apply a voltage to the common electrode. The common electrode and the wire electrode are simultaneously formed through a same process using a printing substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean PatentApplication No. 2009-101149, filed on Oct. 23, 2009 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office (KIPO), the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a touchsubstrate, a method of manufacturing the touch substrate and a displaydevice having the touch substrate. More particularly, exampleembodiments of the present invention relate to a touch substrate havinghigh reliability, a method of manufacturing the touch substrate and adisplay device having the touch substrate.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A touch screen panel (TSP), wherein applying pressure or staticelectricity on a screen enables a user to input information, has beenused. The TSP may be classified as a resistive touch type, a capacitancetouch type, etc.

The resistive touch type TSP can be made by contacting two substratesthat are coated with transparent electrode layers of indium tin oxide(ITO) as common electrodes such that the transparent electrodes faceeach other. Dot spacers may be disposed between the two substrates. Whenthe transparent electrode layer coated on one substrate makes contactwith a transparent electrode layer coated on the other substrate, theTSP detects an electrical signal to determine a contact position.

To manufacture the resistive touch type TSP, the common electrode isformed through a laser printing method and a wire electrode applying avoltage to the common electrode is made of silver (Ag) through a screenprinting method. As a result, there are more processes and manufacturingis complicated.

Moreover, when the ITO common electrodes are repeatedly contacted witheach other, the repeated stress on the common electrodes causes touchcracks to be generated so that the reliability of the TSP is decreased.Moreover, since ITO is expensive, the manufacturing cost of the TSP maybe increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a touch substratehaving high reliability, a method of manufacturing the above-mentionedtouch substrate, and a display device having the above-mentioned touchsubstrate.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a touch substrateincludes a base substrate, a common electrode and a wire electrode. Thebase substrate has a plurality of common electrode areas. A commonelectrode is disposed in each of the common electrode areas. The commonelectrode has a plurality of first electrode lines extended in a firstdirection and arranged in a second direction crossing the firstdirection and a plurality of second electrode lines arranged in thefirst direction. The wire electrode is connected to an end of the commonelectrode to apply a voltage to the common electrode.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of manufacturing a touch substrate. In the method, a printingsubstrate is formed. The printing substrate includes a concave patterncorresponding to a common electrode and a wire electrode. The commonelectrode includes a plurality of first electrode lines extended in afirst direction and arranged in a second direction crossing the firstdirection and a plurality of second electrode lines arranged in thefirst direction, and connecting adjacent first electrode lines. The wireelectrode is connected to an end of the common electrode to apply avoltage to the common electrode. Metal material is spread on theprinting substrate to insert the metal material into the concave patternto form the common and wire electrodes. The common electrode and thewire electrode that are formed in the concave pattern are transferredonto a blanket. The common electrode and the wire electrode formed onthe blanket are transferred to a base substrate.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a display deviceincludes a touch panel and a display panel. The touch panel includes abase substrate, a common electrode and a wire electrode. The basesubstrate has a plurality of common electrode areas. The commonelectrode has a plurality of first electrode lines extended in a firstdirection and arranged in a second direction crossing the firstdirection, and a plurality of second electrode lines arranged in thefirst direction. The wire electrode is connected to an end of the commonelectrode to apply a voltage to the common electrode. The display paneldisplays an image in accordance with an input signal input from thetouch panel.

According to a touch substrate, a method of manufacturing the touchsubstrate and a display device having the touch substrate, a commonelectrode and a wire electrode are simultaneously formed through a sameprocess using a printing substrate, so that the reliability of a productmay be increased. Moreover, the number of the processes to manufacturethe touch substrate may be decreased and the manufacturing cost thereofmay be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent bydescribing in detailed example embodiments thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display device according toan example embodiment of the prevent invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a touch substrate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are cross-sectional views illustrating a printingsubstrate manufacturing process for manufacturing the touch substrateshown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating a silver spreadprocess for manufacturing the touch substrate shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6A to 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating an electrodeforming process for manufacturing the touch substrate shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch substrateaccording to an example embodiment of the prevent invention;

FIGS. 8A to 8D are cross-sectional views illustrating a printingsubstrate manufacturing processes for manufacturing the touch substrateshown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A to 9H are cross-sectional views illustrating a silver spreadprocess for manufacturing the touch substrate shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10A to 10D are cross-sectional views illustrating an electrodeforming process for manufacturing the touch substrate shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a touch substrate according to anexample embodiment of the prevent invention; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a touch substrate according to anexample embodiment of the prevent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the present invention are described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichexample embodiments of the present invention are shown. The presentinvention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein.In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions maybe exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present. Like numerals mayrefer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display device according toan example embodiment of the prevent invention. FIG. 2 is a plan viewillustrating a touch substrate of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectionalview taken along a line I-I′ in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a display device 1000 according to thepresent example embodiment includes a touch panel 100 and a displaypanel 900. The touch panel 100 includes a first touch substrate 200 anda second touch substrate 400. The first touch substrate 200 includes afirst base substrate 210, a plurality of first common electrodes 220 anda plurality of first wire electrodes 230.

The second touch substrate 400 includes a second base substrate 410, aplurality of second common electrodes 420 and a plurality of second wireelectrodes 430. The second touch substrate 400 is positioned opposite tothe first touch substrate 200. The second touch substrate 400 issubstantially the same as the first touch substrate 200, except that thesecond touch substrate 400 includes the second common electrodes 420 andthe second wire electrodes 430 in a different arrangement direction fromthe first common electrodes 220 and the first wire electrodes 230 of thefirst touch substrate 200.

The first touch substrate 200, the first base substrate 210, the firstcommon electrodes 220 and the first wire electrodes 230 are also denotedas a touch substrate 200, a base substrate 210, common electrodes 220and wire electrodes 230, respectively.

The base substrate 210 may include one of glass, plastic,polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), etc. The base substrate 210 includes atouch area TA in which the first common electrodes 220 are formed and anon-touch area NTA in which the wire electrodes 230 are formed. Thenon-touch area NTA is adjacent to the touch area TA.

The common electrode 220 includes a plurality of first electrode lines221 and a plurality of second electrode lines 222. Moreover, the commonelectrode 220 has a first thickness H1.

According to the present example embodiment, the first electrode lines221 and the second electrode lines 222 are formed in a common electrodearea 223 defined by two first sides 223 a shorter than one side of thebase substrate 210 and two second sides 223 b shorter than the firstsides 223 a. The common electrode area 223 may have a stripe shape.Alternatively, the common electrode area 223 may be defined by aplurality of sides having different lengths from each other to be aU-shape or an L-shape and is not limited to a specific shape.

The first electrode lines 221 may be extended in a first direction D1and arranged in a second direction D2 crossing the first direction D1.The second electrode lines 222 may be extended in the second directionD2 and arranged in the first direction D1. Thus, the second electrodelines 222 connect a plurality of the first electrodes 221 that areadjacent to the second electrode lines 222. The first electrode lines221 and the second electrode lines 222 are regularly arranged, so thatthe common electrode 220 has a mesh structure.

The common electrode 220 may have a predetermined area resistance byreducing line widths of the first electrode lines 221 and the secondelectrode lines 222.

The first electrode lines 221 and the second electrode lines 222 crosseach other to define a first transmission area t1 transmitting lightprovided from the display panel 900. The first transmission area t1 mayhave a rectangular shape. The transmission area t1 according to thepresent example embodiment may have a transmission rate of more thanabout 79%.

According to the present example embodiment, the common electrode 220is, for example, made of silver (Ag) by a gravure offset printing.However, the common electrode 220 may be made of different highresistive metal material other than silver (Ag).

The common electrodes 220 are arranged parallel with a third directionD3 which is along a relatively longer side of the base substrate or witha fourth direction D4 which is along a relatively shorter side of thebase substrate.

The wire electrode 230 includes a connection portion 231 and a wireportion 232. The connection portion 231 may be directly connected to thefirst electrode lines 221 or the second electrode lines 222 disposedadjacent to the second sides 223 b in the common electrode area 223. Forexample, the connection portion 231 may be connected to one end of thecommon electrode 220. The wire portion 232 is extended from theconnection portion 231 to be connected to a touch driving part 500driving the common electrode 230. The wire electrode 230 applies avoltage provided from the touch driving part 500 to the common electrode220.

Moreover, the wire electrode 230 has a second thickness H2. The secondthickness H2 may be thicker than the first thickness H1 of the commonelectrode 220, to reduce a resistive value of the wire electrode 230.

In the present example embodiment, the wire electrode 230 is made ofsilver (Ag) by the gravure offset printing. However, the commonelectrode 220 may be made of a high resistance metal material other thansilver (Ag).

According to an embodiment, the common electrode 220 and the wireelectrode 230 are simultaneously made of silver (Ag) by the gravureoffset printing.

The display panel 900 includes a plurality of unit pixels PP. The unitpixel PP includes a switching element TR connected to a gate line GL anda data line DL crossing the gate line GL, a liquid crystal capacitor CLCand storage capacitor CST connected to the switching element TR.

Moreover, the display panel 900 includes a display area DA and aperipheral area PA. The display area DA includes the unit pixels PP, andcorresponds to the touch area TA of the touch panel 100. The peripheralarea PA includes a driving part driving the unit pixel PP connected tothe gate line GL and the data line DL, and corresponds to the non-toucharea NTA of the touch panel 100. The peripheral area PA is an areaexcluding the display area DA of the display substrate 940.

The gate lines GL are extended in a third direction D3 which is a longside direction of the display panel 900 and are arranged in a fourthdirection D4 crossing the third direction D3. The data lines DL areextended in the fourth direction D4 and are arranged in the thirddirection D3. For example, the third direction D3 is different from thefirst direction D1 which is an extending direction of the firstelectrode lines 221 and the fourth direction D4 crosses the thirddirection D3.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are cross-sectional views illustrating a printingsubstrate manufacturing process for manufacturing the touch substrate asshown in FIG. 2.

The touch substrate 200 according to the present example embodiment maybe manufactured by gravure offset printing. For gravure offset printing,a gravure offset printing substrate 300 (also referred to herein as aprinting substrate) and a blanket 350 (see FIG. 5C) are provided. Afirst concave pattern 310 and a second concave pattern 320 correspondingto the common electrode 220 and the wire electrode 230, respectively,are formed on the printing substrate 300. The blanket 350 is used totransfer the common electrode 220 and the wire electrode 230 from theprinting substrate 300 to the touch substrate 200.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4A, a photoresist film 303 includingphotoresist material is formed on the printing substrate 300. A firstmask MS1 is disposed over the printing substrate 300 including thephotoresist film 303. The first mask MS1 includes a transmitting portionP1 transmitting light and a blocking portion B1 blocking the light. Thetransmitting portion P1 is disposed at a position corresponding to thecommon electrode 220 of the touch substrate 200. The photoresist film303 is patterned using the first mask MS1 to form a first pattern 303 a.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4B, the printing substrate 300 including thefirst photo pattern 303 a is etched under a first etching condition. Thefirst concave pattern 310 having a first depth D1 is formed in an areacorresponding to the first photo pattern 303 a. Thus, the first concavepattern 310 is formed in a position corresponding to the commonelectrode 220 of the touch substrate 200, and has the first depth D1.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4C, a photoresist film 304 of a photoresistmaterial is formed on the printing substrate 300 including the firstconcave pattern 310. The second mask MS2 is disposed over the printingsubstrate 300 including the photoresist film 304. The second mask MS2includes a transmitting portion P2 transmitting the light and a blockingportion B2 blocking the light. The transmitting portion P2 is disposedto correspond to the wire electrode 230 of the touch substrate 200.

The photoresist film 304 is patterned using the second mask MS2 to forma second photo pattern 304 a.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4D, the printing substrate 300 including thesecond photo pattern 304 a is etched under a second etching condition.The second concave pattern 320 having a second depth D2 is formed in thearea corresponding to the second photo pattern 304 a. The second etchingconditions are different from the first etching conditions, so that thesecond depth D2 is deeper than the first depth. For example, the etchingconditions may be varied by changing an etching time and/or an etchingliquid.

The second concave pattern 320 is formed at a position corresponding tothe wire electrode 230 of the touch substrate 200. Since the seconddepth D2 is larger than the first depth D1, the resistance of the commonelectrode 220 corresponding to the first concave pattern 310 is largerthan the resistance of the wire electrode 230 corresponding to thesecond concave pattern 320.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are cross-sectional views illustrating a silver spreadprocess for manufacturing the touch substrate as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5A, a roller 360 is disposed on the printingsubstrate 300 including the first and the second concave patterns 310and 320. Silver (Ag) is spread on an outer surface of the roller 360.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5B, the roller 360 is moved on the printingsubstrate 300, so that silver (Ag) spread on the outer surface of theroller 360 is inserted into the first concave pattern 310 and the secondconcave pattern 320 formed on the printing substrate 300.

The touch substrate 200 according to the present example embodimentincludes the common electrode 220 and the wire electrode 230 includingthe same metal material, but the common electrode 220 and the wireelectrode 230 have different resistances from each other due to theirdifferent thicknesses. Accordingly, silver (Ag) may be simultaneouslyspread in the first concave pattern 310 and the second concave pattern320 by one single process to form the common and wire electrodes 220 and230.

Accordingly, the common electrode 220 having the first thickness H1corresponding to the first depth D1 of the first concave pattern 310 andthe wire electrode 230 having the second thickness H2 corresponding tothe second depth D2 of the second concave pattern 320 are formed.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5C, the silver (Ag) inserted in the firstconcave pattern 310 and the second concave pattern 320 formed on theprinting substrate 300 becomes the common electrode 220 and the wireelectrode 230 according to the shapes of the first concave pattern 310and the second concave pattern 320. The blanket 350 is disposed on theprinting substrate 300. When a predetermined pressure is applied to theentire blanket 350, the common electrode 220 and the wire electrode 230corresponding to the shapes the first concave pattern 310 and the secondconcave pattern 320 are simultaneously transferred onto the blanket 350.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5D, the common electrode 220 having the firstthickness H1 corresponding to the first depth D1 of the first concavepattern 310 formed on the printing substrate 300 and the wire electrode230 having the second thickness H2 corresponding to the second depth D2of the second concave pattern 320 formed on the printing substrate 300are formed on the blanket 350.

FIGS. 6A to 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating an electrodeforming process for manufacturing the touch substrate as shown in FIG.2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6A, the blanket 350 onto which the commonelectrode 220 and the wire electrode 230 are transferred is disposed onthe base substrate 210, so that the blanket 350 is positioned oppositeto the base substrate 210. When a predetermined pressure is applied tothe entire blanket 350, the common electrode 220 and the wire electrode230 are transferred onto the base substrate 210.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6B, the common electrode 220 and the wireelectrode 230 on the blanket 350 are transferred, so that the commonelectrode 220 having a first thickness H1 that is substantially the sameas a first depth D1 of a first concave pattern 310 of the printingsubstrate 300 and the wire electrode 230 having a second thickness H2that is substantially the same as a second depth D2 of a second concavepattern 320 of the printing substrate 300 are formed on the basesubstrate 210. The second thickness H2 of the wire electrode 230 islarger than the first thickness H1 of the common electrode 220.

According to the present example embodiment, the common electrode andthe wire electrode are formed by the same metal using the gravure offsetprinting, thereby reducing a number of the processes.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch substrateaccording to an example embodiment of the prevent invention.

In the present example embodiment the common electrode 220 a and thewire electrode 230 a include a first metal material and a second metalmaterial having different resistances, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the touch substrate 200A according to thepresent example embodiment includes a base substrate 210, a plurality ofcommon electrodes 220 a and a plurality of wire electrodes 230 a.

The common electrodes 220 a include a plurality of first electrode lines221 a and a plurality of second electrode lines 222 a. The commonelectrode 220 a has a third thickness H3. The common electrode 220 aincludes a first metal material MT1 having a first resistance, and isformed by a gravure offset printing.

The first electrode lines 221 a are extended in a first direction D1 andarranged in a second direction D2 crossing the first direction D1. Thesecond electrode lines 222 a are extended in the second direction D2 andarranged in the first direction D1. The second electrode lines 222 aconnect adjacent first electrode lines 221 a. Thus, the first electrodelines 221 a and the second electrode lines 222 a are regularly arranged,so that the common electrode 220 a has a mesh structure.

Moreover, line widths of the first electrode lines 221 a are reduced, sothat the first electrode lines 221 a and the second electrode lines 222a may have a predetermined area resistance.

The wire electrode 230 a includes a connection portion 231 a and a wireportion 232 a. Moreover, the wire electrode 230 a also has the thirdthickness H3 that is the same with the thickness of the common electrode220 a.

The wire electrode 230 a includes a second metal material MT2 having asecond resistance smaller than the first resistance, and is formed bythe gravure offset printing.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are cross-sectional views illustrating a method ofmanufacturing a printing substrate for manufacturing the touch substrateas shown in FIG. 7.

The touch substrate 200A according to the present example embodiment maybe manufactured by the gravure offset printing.

A first gravure offset printing substrate 301 a (also referred to as afirst printing substrate), a second gravure offset printing substrate301 b (also referred to as a second printing substrate), a first blanket370 a (see FIG. 9C) and a second blanket 370 b (see FIG. 9G) areprovided for the gravure offset printing. The first concave pattern 310a and the second concave pattern 320 a corresponding to the commonelectrode 220 a and the wire electrode 230 a, respectively, may beformed on the first printing substrate 301 a and the second printingsubstrate 301 b, respectively. The first blanket 370 a may be used fortransferring the common electrode 220 a from the first printingsubstrate 301 a to the base substrate 210 of the touch substrate 200A.The second blanket 370 b may be used for transferring the wire electrode230 a from the second printing substrate 301 b to the base substrate 210of the touch substrate 200A.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8A, a photoresist film 303 includingphotoresist material is formed on the first printing substrate 301 a. Athird mask MS3 is disposed over the first printing substrate 301 aincluding the photoresist film 303. The third mask MS3 includes atransmitting portion P1 transmitting light and a blocking portion B1blocking the light, and the transmitting portion P1 is disposed at aposition corresponding to the common electrode 220 a of the touchsubstrate 200A.

The photoresist film 303 is patterned using the third mask MS3 to form afirst photo pattern 303 a.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8B, the first printing substrate 301 aincluding the first photo pattern 303 a is etched under a third etchingcondition. The first concave pattern 310 a with a third depth D3 isformed in the area corresponding to the first photo pattern 303 a. Thus,the first concave pattern 310 a is formed in a position corresponding tothe common electrode 220 a of the touch substrate 210 with the thirddepth D3.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8C, a photoresist film 304 of a photoresistmaterial is formed on the second printing substrate 301 b. A fourth maskMS4 is disposed over the second printing substrate 301 b including thephotoresist film 304. The fourth mask MS4 includes a transmittingportion P2 transmitting light and a blocking portion B2 blocking thelight, and the transmitting portion P2 is disposed at a positioncorresponding to the wire electrode 230 a of the touch substrate 200A.

The photoresist film 304 is patterned using the fourth mask MS4 to formthe second photo pattern 304 a.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8D, the second printing substrate 301 bincluding the second photo pattern 304 a is etched under a fourthetching condition. The second concave pattern 320 a with the third depthD3 is formed in the area corresponding to the second photo pattern 304a. Thus, the second concave pattern 320 a is formed in a positioncorresponding to the wire electrode 230 a of the touch substrate 210Awith the third depth D3.

Since the first concave pattern 310 a and the second concave pattern 320a have the same third depth D3, the etching condition of the firstconcave pattern 310 a is the same as the etching condition of the secondconcave pattern 320 a.

FIGS. 9A to 9H are cross-sectional views illustrating a silver spreadprocess for manufacturing the touch substrate as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9A, a roller 360 is disposed on the firstprinting substrate 301 a including the first concave pattern 310 a. Afirst metal material MT1 is spread on an outer surface of the roller360.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9B, the roller 360 is moved on the firstprinting substrate 301 a, so that the first metal material MT1 spread onthe outer surface of the roller 360 is inserted into the first concavepattern 310 a formed on the first printing substrate 301 a. Thus, thefirst metal material MT1 inserted into the first concave pattern 310 abecomes the common electrode 220 a of the touch substrate 200A.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9C, the first metal material MT1 inserted inthe first concave pattern 310 a formed on the first printing substrate301 a becomes the common electrode 220 a corresponding to a shape of thefirst concave pattern 310 a. The first blanket 370 a is disposed on thefirst printing substrate 301 a. When a predetermined pressure is appliedto the entire first blanket 370 a, the common electrode 220 acorresponding to the first concave pattern 310 a on the first printingsubstrate 301 a is transferred onto the first blanket 370 a.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9D, the common electrode 220 having the thirdthickness H3 corresponding to the third depth D3 of the first concavepattern 310 a is formed on the first blanket 370 a.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9E, a roller 360 is disposed on the secondprinting substrate 301 b including the second concave pattern 320 a. Asecond metal material MT2 is spread on an outer surface of the roller360.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9F, the roller 360 is moved on the secondprinting substrate 301 b, so that the second metal material MT2 spreadon the outer surface of the roller 360 is inserted into the secondconcave pattern 320 a formed on the second printing substrate 301 b.Thus, the second metal material MT2 inserted into the second concavepattern 320 a becomes the wire electrode 230 a of the touch substrate200A.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9G, the second metal material MT2 inserted intothe second concave pattern 320 a formed on the second printing substrate301 b becomes the wire electrode 230 a corresponding to a shape of thesecond concave pattern 320 a. The second blanket 370 b is disposed onthe second printing substrate 301 b. When a predetermined pressure isapplied to the entire second blanket 370 b, the wire electrode 230 acorresponding to the second concave pattern 320 a on the second printingsubstrate 301 b is transferred onto the second blanket 370 b.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9G, the wire electrode 230 a having the thirdthickness H3 corresponding to the third depth D3 of the second concavepattern 320 a formed on the second printing substrate 301 b is formed onthe second blanket 370 b.

In the touch substrate 200A according to the present example embodiment,since the common electrode 220 a and the wire electrode 230 a have thesame thickness but are made of different metal materials havingdifferent resistances from each other, the first metal material MT1 isspread in the first concave pattern 310 a and the second metal materialMT2 is spread in the second concave pattern 320 a.

The first metal material MT1 and the second metal material MT2 mayinclude, for example, silver (Ag). Thus, the first metal material MT1and the second metal material MT2 may be silver (Ag) or silver alloy.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are cross-sectional views illustrating an electrodeforming process for manufacturing the touch substrate as shown in FIG.7.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10A, the first blanket 370 a including thecommon electrode 220 a is disposed to be opposite to the base substrate210. When a predetermined pressure is applied to the entire firstblanket 370 a, the common electrode 220 a is transferred onto the basesubstrate 210.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10B, the common electrode 220 a on the firstblanket 370 a is transferred, so that the common electrode 220 a havinga third thickness H3 corresponding to a third depth D3 of the firstconcave pattern 310 a of the first printing substrate 301 a is formed onthe base substrate 210.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10C, the second blanket 370 a including thewire electrode 230 a is disposed to be opposite to the base substrate210 a. As described in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the common electrode 220 a isformed on the base substrate 210. When a predetermined pressure isapplied to the entire second blanket 370 b, the wire electrode 230 a istransferred onto the base substrate 210.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 10D, the wire electrode 230 a on the secondblanket 370 b is transferred, so that the wire electrode 230 a havingthe third thickness H3 corresponding to the third depth D3 of the secondconcave pattern 320 a of the second printing substrate 301 b is formedon the base substrate 210 a.

Accordingly, the common electrode 220 a is made of metal materialdifferent from the wire electrode 230 a, and the thickness H3 of thecommon electrode 220 a is the same as the thickness H3 of the wireelectrode 230 a.

According to the present example embodiment, the common electrode andthe wire electrode are formed by gravure offset printing, therebyreducing the number of the processes.

FIG. 11 is cross-sectional view illustrating a touch substrate accordingto an example embodiment of the prevent invention.

In the present example embodiment the common electrode is different fromthe common electrode of the example embodiment of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 11, the touch substrate 200B according to thepresent example embodiment includes a base substrate 210, a plurality ofcommon electrodes 220 b and a plurality of wire electrodes 230.

The common electrode 220 b includes a plurality of first electrode lines221 b and a plurality of second electrode lines 222 b. Moreover, thecommon electrode 220 b has a first thickness H1.

According to the present example embodiment, the first electrode lines221 b and the second electrode lines 222 b are formed in a commonelectrode area 223 defined by two first sides 223 a shorter than oneside of the base substrate 210 and two second sides 223 b shorter thanthe first sides 223 a. The common electrode area 223 may be a stripeshape. Moreover, the common electrode area 223 may be defined by aplurality of sides having different lengths from each other to be aU-shape or an L-shape and is not limited to a specific shape.

The first electrode lines 221 b may be extended in a first direction D1to be arranged in a second direction D2 crossing the first direction D1.The second electrode lines 222 b may be extended in the second directionD2 to be arranged in the first direction D1. Thus, the second electrodelines 222 b connect two the first electrode lines 221 b that areadjacent to the second electrode lines 222 b. Moreover, the secondelectrode lines 222 b adjacent to each other in the first direction D1connect two same first electrode lines 221 b.

For example, each of the second electrodes lines 222 b is shifted in thefirst direction D1 by a predetermined space with respect to the adjacentsecond electrode lines 222 b in the second direction D2. For example,each of the second electrode lines 222 b is not connected to the secondelectrode lines 222 b adjacent in the second direction D2. The secondelectrode lines 222 b connect adjacent first electrode lines 221 b inthe second direction D2.

The first electrode lines 221 b and the second electrode lines 222 b mayhave an area resistance of about 200 Ω/sq.

A second transmitting area t2 transmits the light provided from thedisplay panel 900 by the first electrode lines 221 b and the secondelectrode lines 222 b. The second transmitting area t2 may be, forexample, a square or rectangular shape. The second transmitting area t2is disposed with an adjacent second transmitting area t2 sharing aportion of the first electrode line 221 b in a zigzag shape.

For example, the second transmitting area t2 includes two long sideswhich are the first electrode lines 221 b and opposite to each other andtwo short sides which are the second electrode lines 222 b and oppositeto each other. Thus, the second transmitting area t2 has a rectangularshape. The second transmitting area t2 is shifted from the adjacentsecond transmitting area t2 in the second direction D2 and shares partof the long sides of two adjacent second transmitting areas t2 in thefirst direction D1.

The second transmitting area t2 according to the present exampleembodiment is wider than the first transmitting area t1 according to theexample embodiment of FIG. 2. As a result, the second transmitting areat2 has a larger transmitting rate than the first transmitting area t1.

The wire electrode 230 includes a connection portion 231 and a wireportion 232. The connection portion 231 is directly connected to thefirst electrode lines 221 b or the second electrode lines 222 b disposedat the second sides 223 b of the common electrode area 223. The wireportion 232 may be extended from the connection portion 231 to beconnected to the touch driving part 500 driving the common electrode 220b. The wire electrode 230 applies a voltage provided from the touchdriving part 500 to the common electrode 220 b. Moreover, the wireelectrode 230 has a second thickness H2.

The touch substrate 200B according to the present example embodiment maybe manufactured in the manufacture method of the touch substrate 200according to the example embodiment of FIG. 2.

For example, referring to FIGS. 4A to 6B, the touch substrate 200Baccording to the present example embodiment may be manufactured by thegravure offset printing. A gravure offset printing substrate 300 and ablanket 350 are provided for the gravure offset printing. A firstconcave pattern 310 and a second concave pattern 320 corresponding toeach of the common electrode 220 b and the wire electrode 230 may beformed on the printing substrate 300. The blanket 350 may be used fortransferring the common electrode 220 b and the wire electrode 230 fromthe printing substrate 300 to the base substrate 210 of the touchsubstrate 200B. The method of manufacturing the touch substrate 200Baccording to the present example embodiment may be substantially thesame as the method of manufacturing the touch substrate 200 of theexample embodiment of FIG. 2.

Alternatively, the touch substrate 200B according to the present exampleembodiment may be manufactured in the manufacture method of the touchsubstrate 200A according to the example embodiment of FIG. 7.

For example, referring to FIGS. 8A to 10D, a first printing substrate301 a, a second printing substrate 301 b, a first blanket 370 a and asecond blanket 370 b are provided for the gravure offset printing. Afirst concave pattern 310 a and a second concave pattern 320 bcorresponding to each of the common electrode 220 b and the wireelectrode 230 may be formed on each of the first printing substrate 301a and the second printing substrate 301 b. The first blanket 370 a maybe used for transferring the common electrode 220 b from the firstprinting substrate 301 a to the base substrate 210 of the touchsubstrate 200B. The second blanket 370 b may be used for transferringthe wire electrode 230 from the second printing substrate 301 b to thebase substrate 210 of the touch substrate 200B. The method ofmanufacturing the touch substrate 200B according to the present exampleembodiment may be substantially the same as the method of manufacturingthe touch substrate 200B of the example embodiment of FIG. 7.

According to the present example embodiment, a structure of the commonelectrode 220 b is changed to increase the transmitting area, therebyfurther improving a transmitting rate and a resistance compared to thoseof the example embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is cross-sectional view illustrating a touch substrate accordingto an example embodiment of the prevent invention.

The present example embodiment is substantially the same as the exampleembodiment of FIG. 2, except that the common electrode 220 c isdifferent from the common electrode 220 of the example embodiment ofFIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, the touch substrate 200C according to thepresent example embodiment includes a base substrate 210, a plurality ofcommon electrodes 220 c and a plurality of wire electrodes 230.

The common electrode 220 c includes a plurality of first electrode lines221 c and a plurality of second electrode lines 222 c. Moreover, thecommon electrode 220 c has a first thickness H1.

According to the present example embodiment, the first electrode lines221 c and the second electrode lines 222 c are formed in a commonelectrode area 223 defined by two first sides 223 a shorter than oneside of the base substrate 210 and two second sides 223 b shorter thanthe first sides 223 a. The common electrode area 223 may be a stripeshape. Alternatively, the common electrode area 223 may be defined by aplurality of sides having different lengths from each other to be aU-shape or an L-shape and is not limited to a specific shape.

The first electrode lines 221 c are extended in a first direction D1 andarranged in a second direction D2 crossing the first direction D1.

The second electrode lines 222 c include a first portion a extended inthe second direction D2, a second portion b extended from a first end ofthe first portion a in the first direction D1 and a third portion cextended from a first end of the second portion b in the seconddirection D2. For example, the second electrode lines 222 c have a stepshape which is bent between the first portion a and the second portion band between the second portion b and the third portion c and connectsadjacent first electrode lines 221 b.

The first electrode lines 221 c and the second electrode lines 222 cdefine a third transmitting area t3 transmitting light provided from thedisplay panel 900. The third transmitting area t3 has a shape of which afirst rectangular portion t31 is shifted in the first direction D1 froma second rectangular portion t32.

Since the third transmitting area t3 according to the present exampleembodiment is larger than the first transmitting area t1 of the exampleembodiment of FIG. 2, the touch substrate 200C has a larger transmittingrate than the touch substrate 200.

The wire electrode 230 includes a connection portion 231 and a wireportion 232. The connection portion 231 is directly connected to thefirst electrode lines 221 c or the second electrode lines 222 c disposedat the second sides 223 b of the common electrode area 223. The wireportion 232 is extended from the connection portion 231 to be connectedto the touch driving part 500 driving the common electrode 220 c. Thewire electrode 230 applies a voltage provided from the touch drivingpart 500 to the common electrode 220 c. Moreover, the wire electrode 230has a second thickness H2.

The touch substrate 200C according to the present example embodiment maybe manufactured in a manufacture method of the touch substrate 200according to the example embodiment of FIG. 2.

For example, referring to FIGS. 4A to 6B, the touch substrate 200Caccording to the present example embodiment may be manufactured by thegravure offset printing. A printing substrate 300 and a blanket 350 maybe provided for the gravure offset printing. A first concave pattern 310and a second concave pattern 320 corresponding to each of the commonelectrode 200 c and the wire electrode 230 may be formed. The blanket350 may be used to transfer the common electrode 220 c and the wireelectrode 230 from the printing substrate 300 to the base substrate 210of the touch substrate 200C. The method of manufacturing the touchsubstrate 200C according to the present example embodiment issubstantially the same as the method of manufacturing the touchsubstrate 100 according to the example embodiment of FIG. 2.

Alternatively, the touch substrate 200C of the present exampleembodiment may be manufactured in a manufacture method of the touchsubstrate 200A according to the example embodiment of FIG. 7.

For example, referring to FIGS. 8A to 10D, a first printing substrate301 a, a second printing substrate 301 b, a first blanket 370 a and asecond blanket 370 b may be provided for the gravure offset printing.The first concave pattern 310 a and the second concave pattern 310 bcorresponding to the common electrode 220 c and the wire electrode 230are formed in each of the first printing substrate 301 a and the secondprinting substrate 301 b. The first blanket 370 a may be used fortransferring the common electrode 220 c from the first printingsubstrate 301 a to the base substrate 210 of the touch substrate 200C.The second blanket 370 b may be used for transferring the wire electrode230 from the second printing substrate 301 b to the base substrate 210of the touch substrate 200C. The method of manufacturing the touchsubstrate 200C according to the present example embodiment may besubstantially the same with the method of manufacturing the touchsubstrate 200A according to the example embodiment of FIG. 7.

According to the present example embodiment, the structure of the commonelectrode 220 c is changed, so that a transmitting area may beincreased. Thus, a transmittance and a surface resistance are improved.

According to the embodiments of present invention, a common electrodeand a wire electrode are simultaneously formed through a same processusing a printing substrate, so that the reliability of a product may beincreased. Moreover, the number of the processes to manufacture thetouch substrate may be decreased and the manufacturing cost thereof maybe reduced.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present disclosure and is not to beconstrued as limiting thereof. Although a few example embodiments of thepresent invention have been described, those skilled in the art willreadily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exampleembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch substrate comprising: a base substratehaving a plurality of common electrode areas; a common electrodedisposed in each of the common electrode areas, the common electrodecomprising a plurality of first electrode lines extended lengthwise in afirst direction and arranged in a second direction different from thefirst direction and a plurality of second electrode lines arranged inthe first direction; and a wire electrode connected to an end of thecommon electrode to apply a voltage to the common electrode, wherein thefirst electrode lines and the second electrode lines cross each other todefine a transmission area transmitting light, and wherein the commonelectrode and the wire electrode are disposed in the same layer, andwherein a side surface of the common electrode is electrically connectedto a side surface of the wire electrode.
 2. The touch substrate of claim1, wherein the common electrode comprises the same material as the wireelectrode, and a thickness of the common electrode is less than athickness of the wire electrode.
 3. The touch substrate of claim 1,wherein the common electrode comprises a first metal material and thewire electrode comprises a second metal material having a smallerresistance than the first material, and a thickness of the commonelectrode is substantially equal to a thickness of the wire electrode.4. The touch substrate of claim 1, wherein the second electrode linesconnect adjacent first electrode lines.
 5. The touch substrate of claim1, wherein each of the second electrode lines is not connected to thesecond electrode lines adjacent in the second direction.
 6. The touchsubstrate of claim 1, wherein each of the second electrode lines is bentand connects two first electrode lines, and the second electrode linesadjacent to each other in the first direction are connected to two firstelectrode lines that are adjacent to each other in the second direction.7. A display device comprising: a touch panel comprising: a basesubstrate having a plurality of common electrode areas; a commonelectrode comprising a plurality of first electrode lines extendedlengthwise in a first direction and arranged in a second directiondifferent from the first direction and a plurality of second electrodelines arranged in the first direction; and a wire electrode connected toan end of the common electrode to apply a voltage to the commonelectrode; and a display panel displaying an image in accordance with aninput signal inputted from the touch panel, wherein the first electrodelines and the second electrode lines cross each other to define atransmission area transmitting light, and wherein the common electrodeand the wire electrode are disposed in the same layer, and wherein aside surface of the common electrode is electrically connected to a sidesurface of the wire electrode.
 8. The display device of claim 7, whereina gate line is extended in a third direction different from the firstand second directions, and a data line is extended in a fourth directionsubstantially perpendicular to the third direction.
 9. The displaydevice of claim 7, wherein a thickness of the common electrode issubstantially smaller than a thickness of the wire electrode.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 7, wherein a thickness of the common electrodeand a thickness of the wire electrode are substantially equal to eachother, and the common electrode and the wire electrode are formed fromdifferent materials from each other.
 11. The display device of claim 7,wherein the second electrode lines connect adjacent first electrodelines.
 12. The display device of claim 7, wherein each of the secondelectrode lines is bent and connects two first electrode lines, and thesecond electrode lines adjacent to each other in the first direction areconnected to two first electrode lines that are adjacent to each otherin the second direction.